Soft-tissue masses: optimal imaging protocol and reporting.

OBJECTIVE: Soft-tissue masses derive from a wide spectrum of tissues, and it may be difficult to differentiate nonneoplastic from neoplastic as well as benign from malignant lesions, to say nothing of making a single histologic diagnosis on the basis of imaging. The purpose of this article is to discuss optimal imaging protocols and reporting of soft-tissue masses. CONCLUSION: The radiologist should be prepared, if at all possible, to knowledgably examine the patient, optimize an imaging protocol, and differentiate among lesions. Specific features of an MRI examination must be discussed in each report to completely evaluate the mass and perform efficacious biopsy, staging, and eventual treatment of the lesion. Careful and systematic reporting of the examinations should avoid the devastating consequences of either overlooking a sarcoma or overtreating a benign lesion.

Low-grade cartilage tumors: diagnosis and treatment.

As a result of reading this article, physicians should be able to: 1. List the features that are useful in differentiating a low-grade chondrosarcoma from an enchondroma. 2. Describe the treatment principles of low-grade cartilage tumors based on the anatomic location and stage of the tumor. 3. Discuss the characteristics of a local recurrence after initial treatment and the general consequences.

Imaging of cartilage in the athlete.

Since the development of radiography, we have been able to visualize the osseous alterations related to arthritis. These include productive changes, such as osteophyte formation, sclerosis, and buttressing, as well as erosive changes and subchondral cyst formation. However, because cartilage is radiolucent, it is not directly visible by either radiography or computed tomography. With careful attention to technique, both hyaline and fibrocartilage can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging.